Kamerlingh Onnes discovers that some materials lose all electrical resistance at very low temperatures. He calls this remarkable phenomenon ‘superconductivity’. (1911)

Building on Rutherford’s experimental results, Bohr devises the first model of the atom using an early version of quantum mechanics. (1913)

Kapitsa discovers that helium loses its viscosity at extremely low temperatures and begs Stalin and Molotov to release Landau from prison so that he can find a theoretical explanation of ‘superfluidity’. (1937)

The quantum theory of electromagnetism ‘QED’ is invented by Feynman, Schwinger and Tomonaga. Dyson realised how the pieces fit together while dozing on a greyhound bus crossing America. (1948)

Landau is released from prison and immediately produces a theory of superfluidity. He follows this with a theory of superconductivity. Both theories are based on Landau’s innovative ideas about symmetry breaking. (1950)

Reines and Cowans detect neutrinos produced in the core of a nuclear reactor confirming the theory of the weak force proposed by Pauli and Fermi. (1956)

Higgs invents a mechanism based on symmetry breaking that will enable a unified theory of the electromagnetic and weak forces to be constructed. (1964)

The fourth quark ‘charm’ is discovered providing confirmation of the quark model invented by Gell-Mann. (1974)

Following the discovery of charm, the standard model of particle physics becomes established. It consists of a periodic table of matter particles that interact via two forces described by the electroweak theory and a theory of the strong force known as QCD. (1974)

The W and Z particles that produce the weak force are discovered at CERN. (1983)

After a search lasting several decades, the elusive Higgs particle is discovered at CERN – the final confirmation of the electroweak theory. (2012)

Been watching these events all my life, (at least the ones after I was born, 1947), and was dancing from foot to foot waiting for the confirmation of the Higgs Boson, one way or the other. Now it is confirmed, and science can once again forge ahead in its search for the truth about our amazing universe. I hope the unified field theory is in place before I pass away. I would really like to see that. Real live aliens too.